Aftermath of a DUI Conviction

The long term effects of a DUI
conviction can hinder the employment status and driving status of an offender.
Anyone that is charged with driving under the influence can expect to face
quite a few fines and penalties if they are a first time offender but even
stricter DUI fines and penalties if they are a repeat offender. Many offenders of
the DUI laws in the country have their drivers license revoked, have their
driving privileges revoked for two or more years, lose their jobs, cannot be
hired for a new job and even have their insurance rates increased greatly. A
DUI conviction can stay permanently on a person’s criminal record if it is
considered a felony. A DUI is considered a felony if a serious injury occurred
as a result of the accident, if a victim was killed, or if the offender is a
habitual offender. To have a misdemeanor DUI charge removed from a criminal record
the person must first request a pardon from the state’s governor. If the
governor pardons the offender the charge will be reduced to a misdemeanor. A
misdemeanor can be expunged from a person’s criminal record after a period of
time.

Effects
of a DUI Conviction

The effects of a DUI conviction are
numerous and they include the loss of a job, the inability to be hired for a
job, spending time in jail and having your insurance rates raised through the
roof. Other effects depend on the age of the offender and if they are a first
time offender or a repeat offender.

If you are under the age of 21 and are
convicted for the first time you face these juvenile DUI penalties:

Class
A misdemeanor with possible 0- 12 months imprisonment

Loss
of driving privileges for minimum 2 years

100
hours community service

Fines
of up to $2,500

Eligible
for Restricted Driving Permit (RDP) after one year of revocation

If you are over the age of 21 and are
convicted for the first time you face the following penalties:

Class
A misdemeanor with possible 0-12 months imprisonment

Loss
of driving privileges for minimum 1 year

100
hours community service

Fines
of up to $2,500

Eligible
for RDP

If this is your second conviction:

Class
A misdemeanor with possible 0-12 months imprisonment

Fines
of up to $2,500

Eligible
for RDP after one year of revocation

Loss
of driving privileges for minimum 5 years if committed within 20 years of first
conviction.

If you are a repeat offender within five
years of a prior conviction:

Mandatory
5 days in jail or 240 hours community service

Fines
of up to $2,500

Eligible
for RDP after one year of revocation

If you are a convicted for a third time:

Class
2 felony with possible 3-7 years imprisonment

Mandatory
minimum 10 days in jail or 480 hours community service

Fines
of up to $25,000

Loss
of driving privileges for minimum 10 years.

If you are convicted for a fourth time:

Class
2 felony with possible 3-7 years imprisonment

Fines
of up to $25,000

Lifetime
loss of driving privileges

Not
eligible for any type of driving relief.

The third, fourth, fifth and sixth
convictions are considered aggravated DUI charges.